A New Twist on a New Year's Favorite: Black Eyed Pea Cabbage Rolls

I dutifully purchased some black eyed peas the other day. In most African American households, these are a must eat food for New Years. I haven't been that excited about preparing them, as I was getting pretty bored with some of the traditional recipes. Though I have successfully experimented with black eyed pea salad and fritters, I think I will try out this new recipe I found on one of my favorite vegan blogs, A Profound Hatred of Meant. Check out the blog post here. A Profound Hatred of Meat: Black Eyed Pea Cabbage Rolls: Black Eyed Peas are traditional to eat at the end of the year/beginning of the new year and they happen to be one of my favorite beans so I ...


As a follow-up to this post, read another post on what to do with all of those leftover black eyed peas, here.

Summer-like Pop Up Park

Are you missing the greenery and warmth of the great outdoors already? Didn't get a chance to enjoy some of those wonderful concerts in the park your neighborhood offers? Well, if you live in NYC, you have a second chance! Openhouse Gallery is featuring an interactive exhibit called Park Here, which brings the summer indoors. Lighting, sustainability and entertainment values were given strong consideration in the pop-up park's design. There are food tastings, yoga workouts and concerts for the public to enjoy. Learn more here. Wouldn't this be a great idea in your city? We could bring the outdoors inside in areas where there are no safe green spaces. The "parks" programming could be supplemented by organized tours to actual parks, community gardens, botanical gardens and the like and employees from those venues could come to the pop-up park and give lectures, bring animals and do live demonstrations. It would be a great place for community artists and entertainers to showcase their talents. Funding could be a challenge, but not if you start small - perhaps a cozy eco-friendly room with plants, great lighting and comfy seating where one could just chill with a few friends - it's very doable. Libraries, churches and community centers would be great candidates to house something like this. Anyone tempted to give it a try in their communities?

Finally, A Raw Food Holiday Recipe Book!

I love this website, "Raw Food on $10 a Day" for so many reasons, great pics of delicious and easy to prepare raw food, budget friendly and fun to read. One more reason....I discovered that there is a cookbook for raw food holiday recipes. Check it out.

Green Gift Giving for the Holidays

Toxics Avenger | NRDC Green Gifts It's that time of the year. Every year, I become Scroogier as I listen to reports of people mauling each other over stuff at big box retailers and dred buying more stuff for people just because it is expected. I feel a little better this year, as I started volunteering at a national fair trade retailer, Ten Thousand Villages, so at least in addition to being thoughtful about what I'm giving, I'm also being thoughtful about the benefactors of my hard earned dollars - artisans from over 38 countries who really need the money and are putting it to work in their communities. Many of these gifts are also eco-friendly, women friendly and kid friendly. Apparently many of you and your parents feel the same and cited in this article about increasing demand for greener gifts and quality over quantiy. We are not alone! Yay! There are so many more options these days as retailers are getting the message, even discount retailers like TJ Maxx and Marshalls have dozens or organic and eco-friendly options for those of us shopping on a budget. I purchase some great soy and essential oil based candles from CVS and thrift stores/flea markets are awesome places to find authentic, unique, awesome and made in America gifts - especially this time of the year. If you are inclined to shop online checkout the great offerings made available by the Natural Resources Defense Council - the law firm for the earth.

These soy candles are wonderful! At $7.99 - a great gift!

This is one of NRDC's gift options - love the diversity.

Gift option from the NRDC for animal lovers. Gorgeous wolf!

Educating children - the NRDC let's you give knowledge. Nice.

Toxic Avenger - NRDC let's you give the gift of eco-justice!

US reluctantly sets deadline for final decision on bisphenol A safety

US reluctantly sets deadline for final decision on bisphenol A safety The people have spoken. France has already banned this questionable chemical, often used in canned foods, receipts, glass lid liners and plastics. Industry claims that this synthetic hormone is present in safe levels for human consumption, but more consumers are starting to say, "no thanks". So now the US has an opportunity to give the people what they want, let's see what happens.

Take Action | Disclose Products Using Child Labor

Take Action International Labor Rights Forum Hey! Here is a great way to give this holiday season. The US Department of Labor is taking public comments on a ruling which may require the US government to disclose information about goods it purchases that were made with slave and child labor. Takes no longer than three minutes to complete or you can edit the letter with your own passionate comments!

Take care!

Two women's entrepreneurship spirit show how combining business and science might lead to a global brand | Rutgers Business School

Two women's entrepreneurship spirit show how combining business and science might lead to a global brand Rutgers Business School

The Environmental Side of Occupy Wall Street

The Environmental Side of Occupy Wall Street Green is good.

African Cleantech Association Launches

African Cleantech Association LaunchesAfrica reppin' in the green sector. Let me know if you have any projects which may be a fit.

Taking a Bite out of a Green Apple

Apple continues to eliminate toxics with the iPad. But how green is the cloud? Greenpeace Apple is on the right track with its eco-friendlier products, but an energy hogging threat looms behind the trend towards cloud computing and huge servers needed to store data. Hopefully, a little bit of American ingenuity can be applied to develop strategie for reducing energy use of these servers. Ready to take on the challenge? There is also a link to eco ratings for consumer electronic goods.

Marketing and Communications Director, The Outdoor Foundation

Marketing and Communications Director, The Outdoor Foundation

It's Common Sense - Green For ALL — Green For All

It's Common Sense - Green For ALL — Green For AllI wish I were at this party! One of my favorite rap artists, Common, was a headliner at the Congressional Black Caucus weekend gala. My hope is that if Common is on board with the green agenda, more young people of color will engage with environmental issues and consider green careers.

Just released: "Wheat Grass", a new green Hip Hop video from DJ CaveM, Green For All Fellow — Green For All

Just released: "Wheat Grass", a new green Hip Hop video from DJ CaveM, Green For All Fellow — Green For All Check it out and share with a teen!

Green Box Top | Deal - $19 for 2 Month Subscription to an Eco-Friendly Box of Goodies Delivered to Your Door (normally $38)

Green Box Top | Deal - $19 for 2 Month Subscription to an Eco-Friendly Box of Goodies Delivered to Your Door (normally $38) great college care package or eco-gift!

Cool Tree

Spotted this tree yesterday near a parking lot. Looks like string beans dangling. Look up! You might miss something cool.
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Agro Food Giant Cargill Goes Fair Trade?

Cargill pays premium millions to cocoa farmers as sustainable sourcing grows It's official. The cows have come home. Cargill, one of the largest producers and marketers of food and agricultural products has announced an initiative to promote sustainable production of cocoa. It is working with Rainforest Alliance and UTZ certified to support biodiversity and sustainable living practices in the cocoa business. The move is a reflection of the consumers desire to buy from companies that operate in a socially responsible manner. So keep voting with your wallet....it's working.

Great Green Entry Level Opportunities in the Bay Area

Intern, Greenstart There are several fun and stimulating internship opportunities open in San Francisco, California for the Cleantech start-up venture development firm, Greenstart. Internships are available for those with operational, marketing and writing skills. I love the fun tone of the job descriptions!

Lego Greens Up - A Post From My Son

I am reposting this as you may not have realized it was contributed by my son, Michael, who will be entering DePaul University (one of the greenest colleges in the U.S.) this fall:

As soon as I could hold my own head up and get to moving my baby fat riddled arms I’ve been stacking blocks of some sort. And I can definitively inform that the title for best building bricks around belong to LEGO. These colorful cubes can be attributed to some of the happiest moments of my childhood. Little did I know that when ripping apart the cardboard packaging, I was contributing to the deforestation of the Indonesian Rainforest. Up until recent events Asia Pulp and Paper (APP) had been LEGO’s packaging supplier. Thanks to recent action by Greenpeace kids can assemble their rocket ships and fantasy lands with a clean conscience with LEGO suspending relations with APP as well as declaring that their new products will be made with recycled materials and all paper products will. Mattel has even succumbed to pressure, from Greenpeace and LEGO’s newest statement, announcing that they too will cut their ties with APP. They even went so far as to have a banner with Ken telling Barbie “It’s over, I don’t date girls that are into deforestation.” Hopefully these recent policy changes are from an ideological shift in term of environmentally friendly practices and not just the clever PR responses to a gotcha moment by Greenpeace. As with any global conflict, solutions tend to not be so black and white. In APP’s response to the incident basically highlighted the fact that FSC certification is only applicable towards areas converted from forests after 1994, which automatically excludes a vast majority of plantations in the developing world and favours the North American and European manufacturers who have dominated the industry for 100 years. Though I am sure there is probably a reason for this rule it does raise a question of exclusionary practices in the green movement. Let’s hope that this movement continues as one of global inclusion and unity, uplifting the environment as much as the people inhabiting it.  

Green Law Job: Staff Attorney, Ohio Environmental Council

Staff Attorney, Ohio Environmental Council

Wanted: Garden Manager, Washington Youth Garden

Garden Manager, Washington Youth Garden

Regional Environmental Intern, U.S. Department of the Interior, Office of Environmental Policy and Compliance

Regional Environmental Intern, U.S. Department of the Interior, Office of Environmental Policy and Compliance

Cool Green Job: Brooklyn Botanic Garden

School Workshop Coordinator/Supervising Instructor, Brooklyn Botanic Garden

Gardens and Golf

Another interesting garden bed at Lake Forest Golf Course in Hudson, Ohio.
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Gardens and Golf

I had the great pleasure of spending time with a good friend and some new associates on the golf course yesterday, in support of a fundraiser for Our Lady of the Wayside. While I have made the rounds on a decent number of courses in the area, this one (Lake Forest), was notable due to the bounty of beautiful gardens present on the grounds - and the black squirrels. I don't know if one can judge the values of a club by its grounds, but I give high marks to the management and groundskeeper for the addition of the lush and bright gardens. They may even use more organic landscape practices here. I can dream right?
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Concealed Weapons Against the Environment - NYTimes.com

Legislation pending to gut environmental safeguards. What you need to know.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/31/opinion/sunday/concealed-weapons-against-the-environment.html?_r=1

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Mentoring and Microloans for Food and Beverage Based Businesses

Support - Samuel Adams® Brewing The American Dream Samuel Adams is offering loans up to $25,000 and mentoring support for business owners in the food, beverage and hospitality business. Register for the August seminar via the link to learn more.

Regional Environmental Intern, U.S. Department of the Interior, Office of Environmental Policy and Compliance

Regional Environmental Intern, U.S. Department of the Interior, Office of Environmental Policy and Compliance

Heirloom Tomato Pie - Teen Approved

Heirloom Tomato Pie on the Food Network This is the recipe for the tomato pie I featured yesterday that my son liked. I used a store bought Marie Calendar crust to save on time. It makes for great leftovers for breakfast too! You can veganize it by using Daiya brand non-dairy cheeses.

Teen Approved Vegetarian Food

This is a slice of the Heirloom Tomato Pie that I made this morning. Got the recipe from the Food Network magazine (July issue). You can veganize it by using Daiya brand vegan cheese. Gave it to my son topped with olive oil and a slice of toasted sourdough bread without telling him what it was and he shouted from upstairs, "This is good, Mom!". Nuf said my friends.....
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Study examines household chemical link to disease in children

Study examines household chemical link to disease - ABC Ballarat - Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Danone leads yogurt packaging towards bioplastics

Danone leads yoghurt packaging towards bioplastics The food packaging industry, a huge source of post consumer waste, has been very engaged recently in seeking eco-friendly and sustainable plastic packaging alternatives. Biobased products such as sugar cane are being used as substitutes, manufacturing costs are somewhat higher, but prices are expected to fall as the technology improves and consumer demand increases. Packagers and producers are largely motivated to make these changes due to your demands for these types of environmentally friendly products.

First Supermarket to Feature Local, Organic, Package-Free Shopping to Open in Austin, TX

First Supermarket to Feature Local, Organic, Package-Free Shopping to Open in Austin, TX

Daylily - Not Your Average Flower

One of may varieties of daylilies in my garden. Though drought tolerant, water for longevity.
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Edible Flowers In The Garden: Daylilies

I'm sitting in the summer garden enjoying the light show being put on by fireflies, the sounds of the cricket concert, savoring the fragrance of the oriental lily and eating flowers. Yes, I said eating flowers - daylilies to be exact. The bud pictured was quite delish, had a crisp, fresh taste. All parts of the daylily can be enjoyed gastronomically. The buds can be tossed into salads raw or cooked with stir fries and soups. The flowers can be battered and fried or serve as toppers for a salad or pizza. Even the leaves and roots are eaten in China. You should taste a bud, then give yourself a day to be sure that you aren't allergic. Don't confuse daylilies, which have clumpy masses of grass like leaves with Asian or Oriental lilies, which I don't think are edible. Daylilies are a great plant for an organic garden, they are drought tolerant, hardy, easily divisible and spread nicely. They are available in a variety of colors, sizes and fragrances. Being edible is just icing on the cake! I would love to see more of these on urban farms.
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Organic Gardens Bear Fruit

Luscious everbearing strawberries grown in a pot in my organic curbside garden.
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Environmental Justice Comic Book: Greening and Enlightening Youth

The Environmental Justice comic book Brink City: Green In The Ghetto, is on it's third edition. It's published in Cleveland by Rid-All Corp and is written by Damien Forshe, Martinez Garcias, Randell McShepard and Matthew Pruitt. Themes are environmental justice, urban farming, pollution, food deserts, health and nutrition. Request a copy at ridallcorp@yahoo.com. Printed on 30 percent post consumer recycled paper and with soy ink. Cleveland is repping for the youth!!!
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Green Comic Book Addresses Urban Environmental Issues

Characters from the book include - Veggie Man, Derb, The Worm Man (aka Will Allen), Dr. Greenhand, The Woes and Mr. Info. A great way to reach youth to address green issues in the neighborhoods.
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Environmental Justice Comic Book: Brink City - Green In The Ghetto

Picked up this book at an urban agriculture grand opening this week. Themes in the book address soil issues, vermiculture, urban gardening, food deserts and mindsets. Good stuff.
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Environmental Justice Comic Book

A scene from the comic book "Brink City: Green In The Ghetto, that addresses food deserts.
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Green Internship: Post-conflict Natural Resource Management Intern, Environmental Law Institute

Post-conflict Natural Resource Management Intern, Environmental Law Institute

Post-conflict Natural Resource Management Intern, Environmental Law Institute

http://www.sustainablebusiness.com/index.cfm/go/greendreamjobs.display/id/3052495?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+SBGreenDreamJobs+%28SustainableBusiness.com+Green+Dream+Jobs%29

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Imported Fish with Banned Chemicals Reaching U.S. Consumers

Imported Fish with Banned Chemicals Reaching U.S. Consumers When you think about it, goodness knows what kinds of toxins our fish in the U.S. are exposed to, so imagine what a fish from a country with less regulation has to deal with. Next time you are in the supermarket, read the labels on the country of origin for many seafood products. You will be shocked. Knowledge is power, so do what you must do with this information.

Campaign for Safe Cosmetics : Bath & Body Works Asked to Clean Up

Campaign for Safe Cosmetics : Get Involved Learn more about the petition to ask Bath & Body Works to eliminate unneccessary chemicals from its beauty products.

Fancy Vegetarian Event at Veggie U!

Toasting to a Fresh Future Veggie culture is alive and well in Cleveland, Ohio. So much so, that we have our own vegetable university to help educate the fourth graders and special needs kids on everything there is to know about vegetables and veggie culture. Vegetarians, don't get to geeked, because this is not a vegetarian curriculum. Don't turn your noses up too much, because educating children about the wonders of nature, gardens and vegetables can provide a gateway to vegetarianism and/or more plant based diets. If you want to promote a veggie based curriculum in your school, through Veggie U's "Earth To Table " science kits, click on the link.

Viva la Veggies!

Toyota Prius Parking Perks

As if there aren't enough perks associated with owning a Toyota Prius, excellent parking spaces is just one more to add to the list. I nabbed a parking space closest to the building today in the special designated areas for hybrid and low emission vehicles. I was told that this is a required feature of a LEED certified building. One that I can appreciate!
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Organic Fair Trade Tea at Discount Prices

I will be enjoying this delicious fair trade organic tea featuring rose buds tonight. Purchased it at a discount store called TJ Maxx or HomeGoods, where I have found some nice deals on fair trade and organic goods. The packaging is also eco-friendly, made with 100 percent recycled materials and soy-based ink. http://www.numitea.com/.
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One Man Economic Engine: Will Allen of Growing Power in Cleveland

Will Allen of Growing Power in Cleveland to launch our newest Urban Agriculture and Youth Education initiative.
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Eco-Friendly, Water Friendly Curbside Gardens

This is a snapshot of one of my curbside eco-friendly gardens. It features native redbud, daylilies, hibiscus, grasses, echinops, butterfly bush, clematis, daisies, coneflower, sedum, oriental lilies, elephant ear, irises,phlox and a few annuals and edibles tucked in. I rarely have to water it, kids, birds and butterflies love it and it pretty much takes care of itself.
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Urban Curbside Garden

Spotted this oasis of lush nature at the corner of a city street in our Chinatown. Was on my way to grab some Thai for lunch and "hello", I was greeted by this curbside garden! It features daylilies, echinops and sunflowers. In Asia, daylily buds are eaten in stirfries.
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Urban Curbside Garden Cleveland Chinatown

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Urban Curbside Garden: Chinatown

 Sunflowers!

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Green Jobs: Associate Attorney , Lawyers for Clean Water, Inc

Associate Attorney , Lawyers for Clean Water, Inc. Green job opportunity in the legal field. Looking for someone with a passion for the environment, great legal skills and a sense of humor!

House Republicans Ready to Vote to Eliminate Efficient Lightbulbs!

House Republicans Ready to Vote to Eliminate Efficient Lightbulbs!A burning issue for our nation that requires congressional action. ASAP! Really?

Program Officer, World Wildlife Fund

Program Officer, World Wildlife Fund Diverse candidates encouraged to apply. D.C. based.

Small Wind Turbines Getting Popular, Home Depot Starts Selling Them

Small Wind Turbines Getting Popular, Home Depot Starts Selling Them

Raw Breakfast Idea

Take advantage of in season fruits to make a great raw breakfast fruit granola. This has bananas, nectarines, cherries and grapes, topped with chopped almond, honey and almond milk. You could add flax seed for mor crunchiness and fiber.
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Organic Garden Edible Flowers

Daylilies from my organic garden. A beauty to behold and a pleasure to the palate. I added daylily flower petals to my pizza last night with fresh basil from the garden. My son enjoyed it. The taste? Very mild, with a delicate, slightly fragrant sweetness. The buds of the flower can be stir fried and supposedly tastes like asparagus and green beans. I will let you know soon.
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Children Love Organic Gardens

This Oriental lily is one of many lilies in bloom this month in my organic garden. More kids passed by today and complimented the garden, one young lady confessed to picking a purple coneflower because "to give to my mother, cuz she doesn't have a garden like this". She told me she likes roses, but not tomatoes, so I gave her a mini tour. She liked the apricot geraniums and hydrangeas. I told her to feel free to pick flowers for her mom. I am pleased because it was my intention to plant a garden that was pleasing to kids and that they could enjoy picking a flower or two or berry to please their moms and their tastebuds. Ahhh nature!
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Bird Egg

Found this little treasure on my walk. Nice color.
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Urban Foraging: Raspberries In The City

Found this patch of raspberries drifting over the fence of an abandoned property. Would make a nice pie, right?
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Great Green Gardening Books: Have Your Flowers and Eat Them Too

Since "permaculture" became a part of my vocabulary, I have felt some guilt about the wealth of flowers in my garden. I have over the past few years made efforts to increase the number of edible plants that my sun restricted garden will allow, so imagine my delight when I discovered that many of the flowers in my garden are actually edible! Recipes include,  zucchini blossom fritters, lavender shortbread, rose sorbet, stir fry daylily buds. Hallelujah! Want to learn more about edible landscaping and gardening? I recommend the books presented in this post. I read all but the Edible Wild Plants book, which will be my next acquistion, of course.

Green and Greenish Summer Reading List: So Many Books, So Little Summer

Okay, it's July already, so I need to get busy on my green summer reading list - a carry over from years of high school Honors English. So here the green books I am reading or would love to read this summer. So far, I'm reading and coloring, The Botany Coloring Book, an excellent, fun and relaxing way to bone up on plant biology (I confess. I'm a green geek.). The very first chapter gives a nice primer on the sun's connection to various sources of energy - renewable and non-renewable. If you don't feel like reading, you can just grab a few colored pencils, sit or lie in your favorite spot and color away. Great, green therapy.

Organic Garden Goody: Bell Pepper "Fries"

Remember that luscious, shiny purple pepper from my organic garden? Wasn't sure if I was going to cook it or eat it raw. I decided to make raw bell pepper "fries" by slicing eat and seasoning with salt, pepper and olive oil. Muy delicioso!
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Purple Beauty Sweet Pepper

This pepper should be pretty sweet. Should I stuff it and bake it or enjoy it raw in a salad?
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Green Groupon or Daily Deal Site Alternatives

Four daily deal sites that are better for the planet than Groupon | MNN - Mother Nature NetworkI was conducting some research for a post on Green Daily Deal site or Groupon alternatives, when I discovered this article.  Let me add to the mix.Websites,   www.PureCitizen.com, www.LovingEco and www.Greendeals.org are additional options.  Each has its  own flavor, style and mission, so I suggest you subsribe to all via email, FB or Twitter to assess which best meets your needs and interests. That is my strategy. These sites are great avenues for supporting greener and ethical companies, but without breaking the bank! If you are a green business owner, these Green Groupon sites can be a fantastic way to gain exposure for your products and services.

Take Action | Encourage Hersheys To Use Fair Trade Cocoa

Take Action | International Labor Rights Forum i just sent a request to Hersheys asking them to commit to slave free and fairly traded cocoa products  You can too, just click on the link  Hersheys, America's most loved candy maker can make an impact and lead the nation in ethical chocolate production

The Cancer Project / Fourth of July Menu

The Cancer Project / Fourth of July Menu Have a great holiday!  The cancer project is a nutrition oriented project, which seeks to reduce cancer rates through the promotion of a plant based and fat free diet. I took a series of their classes a few years ago and was cleverly introduced to new foods and recipes via live recipe demonstrations and taste tests

- never was the word vegan or fat free mentioned(because people woulld have run for the hills), but you figured it out by the third class. The recipes presented today contain no fat, but feel free to add a splash of olive oil - it's the holidays! there is also a raw sorbet dessert recipe at the end.

Preserve, The Eco-Friendly Toothbrush

Packaging aka envelope. Awwwesome.
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Eco-Friendly Toothbrush

The handle is made from recycled, BPA free plastic. When you are ready for another brush, return the handle in the original package which is also a postage paid envelope! Cool. That is good design.
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Thrift Find: White Party Season

I saw this crisp white designer top a couple of weeks ago when me and my girls had a thrift store shopping day. Didn't buy then, but lucked up and found it still there today, just in time for tonight's wear all white party. $12 bucks.
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Good Green News: Bike Highways, Green Business Financing and Green Cities

Innovative Green Business Financing in Vermont; Sustainable Maryland Certified Launches; Interstate Bike Highway Resumes; NC Takes Cleantech Census; Texas Passes TV-Takeback Law

This Week In The Garden: Future Blackberries

These blackberries are in my front garden and I will train them over an arbor at some point when my finances facilitate this desire. It has been interesting to watch how the fruit transforms from a flower bud, to flower to fruit. Try growing your own food, even if it is in a pot on the windowsill (my dad grows tons of peppers this way), it is a wonderful way to connect with nature.
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Outstanding Teens

The photo features my son Michael's display in one of dozens of Outstanding Senior displays, highlighting the accomplishments of teens selected to represent their chapters. Last week I had the pleasure of attending my first and last Jack and Jill Teen Conference with my son, hundreds of amazing, accomplished and beautiful teens accompanied by dozens of parents. The conference was run by and planned by teens with support of loving and caring adults. Under the theme of "Be Green, Be Healthy, Be Innovative, Be You, Be the Change" many activities and meetings were conducted. The event was held in Michigan at Oakland University, which appeared to be a campus which takes sustainability seriously. Our conference bags were attractive and recyclable, skits, t-shirts, exhibits, community service activities and oratoricals really played up the theme of being green and being the change, and there was even a workshop selection on environmental justice! The older teens were given the opportunity to test drive GM's electric car, the Volt in addition to the Camaro. It was wonderful being around such youthful energy and promise. Our expectations for them to be the change in our communities was frequently stressed, especially at the worship service. While not all the teens were into the green theme, I feel that awareness of green initiatives and practices was greatly enhanced by the event.
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This Week In The Garden: A Beautiful Pairing

"Annabelle" hydrangea and daisies share aa spotlight in the sun.
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Green Careers: imberland Creates Executive Position for Social Responsibility

Timberland Creates Executive Position for Social Responsibility

reen Job: Online Associate, DC, M+R Strategic Services

Online Associate, DC, M+R Strategic Services

Life The Green Way: Product Reviews

Life The Green Way: Product Reviews: "Volcanic Ash: Beauty Products Flying Under the Radar by Sarafina Moon While I try to use all-natural products as much as possible, I am ..."

B Corporations Recognized as 'Most Promising Social Entrepreneurs'

B Corporations Recognized as 'Most Promising Social Entrepreneurs'

What Are the Top 50 Socially Responsible Corporations?

What Are the Top 50 Socially Responsible Corporations?

Huge BofA Project to Install $2.6bn of Solar on Company Roofs Across U.S. · Environmental Management & Energy News · Environmental Leader

Huge BofA Project to Install $2.6bn of Solar on Company Roofs Across U.S. · Environmental Management & Energy News · Environmental Leader

Thrifting And Living Green With The Girlfriends

This weekend a few girlfriends came up to Cleveland for a round of thriftstore/consignment shopping. We found some great deals. These sexy, sparkly, peach sandals were $10 and I'm sure will be deployed very effectively by my girlfriend at the next ladies night! We hit several stores, most of which were well curated and offered several vintage items and sizes for curvy ladies. Everyone found something - a purse, a party dress, a work dress, a feminine, flowing animal print top, a watch. We had a great time! I even got the ladies to dry some raw dried mango slices and gave everyone a cutting of mint from the garden to take home to root and plant. We had dinner at MELT a restaurant that offers a nice variety of delicious vegan and vegetarian substitutes for its menu items. Even my son will eat their veggie meat substitutes on Meatless Mondays! You should plan a green weekend with your friends. You could overtly say "hey let's do a green weekend!" Or be subtle about it and do what you do everyday but add a splash of humor and fun.
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Raw Arugula Salad

Tonight's dinner. Arugula, sugar plum tomatoes, avocado, green onions, almonds. Top with squeeze of half a lime, a zip of olive oil and a dash of seasonings. Enjoy.
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Whole Foods Parking Lot Video: Hilarious!

Summertime Raw Breakfast Idea

Strawberries, grapes, kiwi, banana and chopped almonds. Topped with almond milk. Ahhh, summer!
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The CIA and the Pentagon Declare War on Climate Change | OnEarth Magazine

The CIA and the Pentagon Declare War on Climate Change | OnEarth Magazine

Let Your Light Shine

This pink rose has a long history. It is from a collection of rose bushes that my grandfather tended back in his retirement days. I planted it some 15 years ago, then planted an Annabelle hydrangea shrub about 8 years ago. Well as you can see the large green leaves of the hydrangea has taken over my poor roses place in the garden. This year I didn't even expect any blooms given the lack of light, but was pleasantly surprised to find this pink beauty peeking out through the darkness as I pulled into the driveway. Gives me hope that innovative thought and concepts can make their way through ignorance and darkness to shed beauty upon the world. God is good.
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Mobile App Gives Shoppers Access to Product Ingredients

Mobile App Gives Shoppers Access to Product Ingredients

Cool Light Fixture from Tree Branches

Pretty awesome, right? Another creative use of recycled wood materials featured in the Smart Home created by Cleveland Museum of Natural History.
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Recycled Wood Art

Beautiful wood pieces on display at the Smart Home in Cleveland, Ohio.
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Art From Recycled Materials

Check out this cute floral arrangement made from recycled plastic bottles. Found in the Cleveland Museum of Natural History's Smart Home, a passive house demonstration.
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A Rare Chipmunk Close-up

How often does one get the opportunity to view a chipmunk sitting still? Normally they seen only as a tiny blur of striped fur dashing across the patio or yard. Pulled into the driveway after church and this chipmunk was just chilling on the rim of a blue pot. We sat still in the car and our patience was rewarded with seeing her grub on a seed of some sort and grooming the top of her head. Thanks God for this rare treat!
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Sierra Club Cool Green Schools List

Sierra Club Names Boston University as top 50 Green Schools » Sustainability » Boston University Again, DePaul makes the list. In my mind, the Sierra Club list is official. Click on the questionnaire to get a list of questions you can ask on college tours with your teen. This could be adapted to secondary schools as well.